Anyone use Star Tron enzyme fuel treatment?

[willowstreetguzziguy]

Bought some and added 1 oz. per 6 gallons of gas.  I'm on my second full tank with it. Too soon to tell but has anyone used it and had improved results?

[Markcarovilli]

I use it all the time but don't look for any improvement....

I use to help combat the effects of ethanol, but am only thinking it is cheap (guzzi content) insurance.

Mark

[Perazzimx14]

Never used Star Tron but have used SeaFoam. After looking at the SDS of SeaFoam it is nothing more than Naphtha and light oil. Now as a fuel treatment I use Crown camp fuel AKA white gas AKA Napata at only $7 dollars per gallon at your local Wally world. One ounce-ish per gallon and away I go. I also use it in my MSR whisperlite camp stove

The SDS for Star Tron looks to be 90 to 95% Petroleum distillates, hydrotreated light (Naphata) & 1-10% kerosene

So or $7 in white gas and $0.80 in kerosene you can make about 160 ounces of Startron-esk "fuel enzyme"  treatment or you can pay pay $6.97 for an 8 ounce bottle of Startron at 21 times the cost or $0.04 verses $0.87 per ounce

[sib]

I'd be mighty impressed by any enzyme that works in fuel, or is even soluble in fuel.  Enzymes, after all, are proteins.

[guzzisteve]

I use it in 2 bikes that only get ridden a few times a month, just so I don't have to clean my carbs from sitting. I don't have to go get fresh fuel all the time.

[ken farr]

I use it all the time but don't look for any improvement....

I use to help combat the effects of ethanol, but am only thinking it is cheap (guzzi content) insurance.

Mark

...what he said....

I order it online through Wally World.  Get the  16oz. bottle that treats 500 gallons.  Not too expensive.


kjf

[Vagrant]

It works! End of story. the main reason to use it is for storage or seldom used products. especially with small engines. the high speed jets of today are smaller than the low speed of 20 years ago.
I was in wholesale distribution of hand held 2 cycle equipment for 37 years and Star tron is the best of what's available today.

[guzzipete]

I have used StarTron in my 2009 V7 Classic since about 2011. The plastic tank has no visible deformities. I had the two piece plastic/metal fuel filter replaced a couple of years ago. It looked good, but replaced it with an all metal one anyway.

I put in one ounce at every fill up.

[redhawk47]

My story:
2009 BMW F800GS Clogged fuel injectors had to be replaced because the holes are too small to clean. They were clogged by the crud that forms when ethanol and water are combined. Water gets in the fuel from normal humidity and condensation. The only solutions offered by BMW were 1) use E0 fuel (which is not regularly available, particularly when traveling) and 2) Add a fuel treatment/injector cleaner to the fuel on a regular basis.
I added StarTron on a regular basis until I sold the bike. No more injector problems.

I now add StarTron frequently to all of my bikes, and use E0 whenever I can.

[Yeahoo Whoyah]

My story:
2009 BMW F800GS Clogged fuel injectors had to be replaced because the holes are too small to clean. They were clogged by the crud that forms when ethanol and water are combined. Water gets in the fuel from normal humidity and condensation. The only solutions offered by BMW were 1) use E0 fuel (which is not regularly available, particularly when traveling) and 2) Add a fuel treatment/injector cleaner to the fuel on a regular basis.
I added StarTron on a regular basis until I sold the bike. No more injector problems.

I now add StarTron frequently to all of my bikes, and use E0 whenever I can.

Exact same thing happened to me, same model bike, also sold the bike after a couple of years.  BMW fuel injector cleaner is Chevron Techron in a BMW labeled container with a price bump.

[kirkemon]

Why Star Tron and not Bel Ray All in One?
http://www.belray.com/all-one-fuel-treatment-0

[Perazzimx14]

Interestingly enough I have had exactly zero problems related to ethanol containing fuel. Every gas station state up to 10% ethanol so either they are putting a lot less ethanol in or there really isn't a problem. Heck I bought a 25cc 2 stroke weed whacker over a year ago and am still using the same gallon of fuel. Push the prime bulb a couple of times pull the cord and away she goes. Damn ethanol anyhow!

[Lcarlson]

I've never had an ethanol related problem, but I do use Startron pretty regularly in the winter. The rest of the year the fuel isn't around long enough to need stabilizing. For fuel system cleaning, I use Techron/BMW fuel system cleaner.

[redhawk47]

Why Star Tron and not Bel Ray All in One?
http://www.belray.com/all-one-fuel-treatment-0

Ethanol and water combine to make a crud that will plug injectors and cause other problems. StarTron contains an enzyme that converts that crud to smaller particles that will pass through the injectors. It also binds the water to the gasoline so that it "burns" rather than reacting with the ethanol. (Think "water injection" used by drag racers.)
Yes, I have "drunk the Kool-Aid".

PS: StarTron comes is several different "strengths" - "Treats XX# of gallons" - yet typically cost the same for the same size bottle. I wrote StarTron about this; they said that you get the same amount of the good stuff per gallon treated. They make different "strengths" for ease of treatment. I get mine in the boat section at Wal-Mart.

[ken farr]

Ethanol and water combine to make a crud that will plug injectors and cause other problems. StarTron contains an enzyme that converts that crud to smaller particles that will pass through the injectors. It also binds the water to the gasoline so that it "burns" rather than reacting with the ethanol. (Think "water injection" used by drag racers.)
Yes, I have "drunk the Kool-Aid".

PS: StarTron comes is several different "strengths" - "Treats XX# of gallons" - yet typically cost the same for the same size bottle. I wrote StarTron about this; they said that you get the same amount of the good stuff per gallon treated. They make different "strengths" for ease of treatment. I get mine in the boat section at Wal-Mart.

...it's kinda tasty....



kjf

[Lannis]

Interestingly enough I have had exactly zero problems related to ethanol containing fuel. Every gas station state up to 10% ethanol so either they are putting a lot less ethanol in or there really isn't a problem.

Hmm.   What, then, do you think is causing the issues that are being called out on this and every other motor list in the world, the things that didn't used to happen before ethanol .... ?   Dissolving chain saw fuel lines, clogged jets in carbs, lower fuel mileage compared to E0, rusty fuel tanks ....

I mean, it's not like we want these things to happen and need to talk about them and fix them and so there's a case of mass hysteria going on where we all fool ourselves into believing it's a problem ... I don't think ....

Lannis

[Arizona Wayne]

Never used Star Tron but instead use Sta-Bil in my rigs that don't get ridden/driven regularly.  It seems to work just fine.    On bikes w/carbs I drain the bowls or run the motor until it dies with the pet cocks off.  I already know unlike diesel fuel, gasoline has a certain shelf life and Sta-bil keeps my gas operational longer than gas w/o it.  I can smell gas and tell if it's getting stale or not.   If the fuel is no longer combustible in a motor it smells flat, no longer having that fresh gas smell.  Ingredients are gone then.

[Kev m]

I think I've said this before, but in the marine industry Star-Tron has received the recommendation nod from one or more of the major manufacturers.

I believe it was originally developed to clean the filters of large industrial diesel engines that would be too costly to take off line for filter changes.

For those who haven't "experienced" ethanol problems I think part of the issue is that ethanol doesn't just magically cause problems in most modern fuel systems.

It has the ability to cause problems with old systems where rubber components aren't compatible.

It has the ability to cause problems if the fuel supply is exposed to excessive amounts of moisture.

It has the ability to cause problems in fuel system that contains lots of gunk left behind from evaporating fuel over the years because ethanol loosens it up enough to flow and clog things.

But those same solvent-like properties probably help it in a fuel system that isn't filled with deposits.

Personally I use it as a winter for treatment and I have used it on marine motors that I suspected had contaminated fuel. It SEEMED to work a miracle or two on the latter.

[Nic in Western NYS]

Wish I had some good evidence as to how/if it works, but on multiple recommendations from smart disinterested mechanics I started using it a few years ago.  I store their handy 1 oz container on the bike, use it 1 per fill up. 

[Perazzimx14]

Hmm.   What, then, do you think is causing the issues that are being called out on this and every other motor list in the world, the things that didn't used to happen before ethanol .... ?   Dissolving chain saw fuel lines, clogged jets in carbs, lower fuel mileage compared to E0, rusty fuel tanks ....

I mean, it's not like we want these things to happen and need to talk about them and fix them and so there's a case of mass hysteria going on where we all fool ourselves into believing it's a problem ... I don't think ....

Lannis

If I have no fuel related issues how could I possibly speculate on what is causing issues for
others?

[Lannis]

If I have no fuel related issues how could I possibly speculate on what is causing issues for
others?

Oh come on, we speculate on stuff all the time.   Sort of what we do .....

[webmost]

I'd be mighty impressed by any enzyme that works in fuel, or is even soluble in fuel.  Enzymes, after all, are proteins.

Yabbut... it's *S*T*A*R*  *T*R*O*N*

[Rough Edge racing]

Hmm.   What, then, do you think is causing the issues that are being called out on this and every other motor list in the world, the things that didn't used to happen before ethanol .... ?   Dissolving chain saw fuel lines, clogged jets in carbs, lower fuel mileage compared to E0, rusty fuel tanks ....

I mean, it's not like we want these things to happen and need to talk about them and fix them and so there's a case of mass hysteria going on where we all fool ourselves into believing it's a problem ... I don't think ....

Lannis

 There is some truth to it..  What I have actually seen is when E10 fuel evaporates on a metallic surface it leaves a thin layer of sticky stuff...If more fuel is added not long afterwards, the new fuel dissolves the sticky stuff....But if a few months go by then the sticky stuff can become hard and not readily disloved....I have also seen some fuel hoses crack ..but I don't know how old they were ....Other than that I've seen no problems...My chain saws that get used hard every few months didn't seem to have any issues...But ..since non ethanol fuel is easy to get I just have used that for the last 5 years or so and never use any additives...